The Supreme Court on Tuesday, November 3, adjourned till November 5 the hearing on appeals filed by former Tehelka editor-in-chief Tarun Tejpal challenging his conviction and 10-year rigorous imprisonment in the 2013 rape case, along with a cross-plea by the Goa government seeking enhancement of that sentence, Nation Press reported.
Source: Nation Press
A bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Prasanna B. Varale deferred the proceedings after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Goa government, sought more time. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Tejpal, did not contest the adjournment.
Source: Daily Kiran
Diwali furlough plea opposed
The brief hearing turned contentious when Sibal urged the court to let Tejpal come home briefly for the Diwali festival. 'If he wants to take time, he can take time. But let (Tejpal) come out during Diwali,' he submitted, adding: 'So what? It's a reversal of the acquittal. He can come home for Diwali. Why should he be inside?' Mehta opposed the request, noting that Tejpal stands convicted. The court did not grant the furlough ahead of the November 5 hearing, Nation Press reported.
Source: Nation Press
How the case reached the Supreme Court
The case stems from an allegation by a junior colleague that Tejpal sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Goa during the magazine's event in November 2013. A trial court acquitted him in 2021, but the Bombay High Court on August 6 set aside the acquittal and convicted him under Sections 376(2)(f) and 376(2)(k) (rape), 354A (sexual harassment) and 354B (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing him to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment.
Source: Nation Press
On August 25, the Supreme Court ordered Tejpal to surrender within three weeks, and on September 25 it issued notice on his challenge to the sentence and sought the Goa government's response. Tejpal surrendered before the Additional Sessions Court at Mapusa on September 14 and was lodged at Colvale Central Jail in North Goa. On October 15, the court had postponed the hearing to November 3 at the Goa government's request after it filed its response, Daily Kiran reported.
Source: Daily Kiran
Both Tejpal's appeal against conviction and the Goa government's sentence-enhancement plea are now listed together for hearing on November 5.